Why You Should Travel With a Polaroid Camera

Yes, they're hopelessly retro, but instant film cameras are actually the perfect suitcase staple for modern travelers.

Cameras are often at the top of travel packing lists when venturing off to see a new destination—for me, anyway. These days, we’re living in a digital world of Facebook photo albums and documenting travel destinations with hashtags. But that's why it can be nice to take a break every once in a while with good old-fashioned print photos.

In particular, instant film cameras (first created by Polaroid in the 1940s) may just be one of the best suitcase staples ever. Here's why you should start traveling with one:

They make for more personal postcards.Receiving surprise mail is always more exciting than getting an online check-in or message. But forget about buying that overpriced postcard at the souvenir shop; instead, capture your own postcard-like photo with an instant camera. Get creative by writing your own personal notes on the front or back.

You can give them away as reminders.The people you meet on your travels are just as important to remember as the destination itself. As your travels continue, you'll find that some people stay and others go. When you meet someone special, preserve the memory in a picture and give it to them to keep in their wallet as they continue on the road. (You can always find them on Facebook later.)

People in other countries love and get excited over them.When I traveled to India on my last trip, I took photos with a few children on my instant camera, and they were so excited to see the film pop out and the picture come to life. Break the ice, take a picture, and make people smile.

Depending on your preference and luggage space, there are a variety of camera and film sizes you can choose from. For the light packer, the Fuji Instax Mini 8 (available in white and pink) or Mini 90 (available in vintage black/silver) are just enough to capture credit card-sized snaps. Have a little more room? Try the 210 Wide for larger photos.

And if you want to get a little extra fancy, pick up some printed film designs. Fujifilm has options in plain, polka dots, and even dalmatian!